Letter and tape printing device



Feb. 17, 1942. J. A. STROTHER ETAL LETTER AND TAPE PRINTING DEVICE Filed March 9, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet l NT Rs IQ/ 27m n .0

ATTORNEY INVE Y dhf/ Filed March 9, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 17, 1942. HER ETAL 2,273,295

LETTER AND TAPE PRINTING DEVICE Filed March 9, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS ATTORNEY Feb. 1942- J. A. STROTHER ETAL 2,273,295

LETTER AND TAPE PRINTING DEVICE Filed March 9, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENT R J /7 7 f' a fr ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 17, 1942 LETTER AND TAPE PRINTING DEVICE John A. Strother, Stamford, and Edwin H. Owen,

Old Greenwich,

Conn., assignors to Pitney- Bowes Postage Meter 00., Stamford, Conn., a

corporation of Delaware Application March 9, 1940, Serial No. 323,110.

7 Claims.

This invention relates to a machin for printing upon separate pieces of matter and upon tape at a single printing position and more particularly to means whereby the printing may be ef fected directly upon either the separate pieces of matter or tape without resorting to any manually selective pre-setting means.

The machine to which this invention is particularly adapted is a metered mailing machine, which prints postage stamp impressions upon letters and tape. In such machines it is now the practice to provide manually controlled selective devices whereby the machine is pre-set for the printing of either letters or tape before a printing operation is effected.

It is the principal object of this invention to provide means whereby the machine may be tripped to effect a printing operation during either a letter tripping or a tape tripping operation and to include means whereby the act of tripping during an initial tripping operation will effect movement of the tape either to a printing position or to a non-printing position.

It is another object to provide means whereby after the tape is positioned in a printing or a non-printing position during an initial tripping operation, it will continue in said position until a change in tripping occurs.

It is another object to connect a letter actuated tripping member with a tape adjusting device in such manner as to provide for the withdrawal of the tape from a printing to a non-printing position during an initial letter tripping operation and to permit further letter tripping operations without further adjustment of the tape adjusting device.

It is another object to connect a manually actuated tripping member with the tape adjusting device in such manner as to provide for the advancementof the tape to a printing position during an initial manual tripping operation and to permit further manual tripping operations without further adjustment of the tape adjusting device.

With the above and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination andarrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that various changes in the precise emv bodiment of the invention herein disclosed may be made within the scope ofwhat is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings,

wherein;

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view with parts broken away showing a portion of a metered mailing machine;

Fig. 2 is a detail side elevational view of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrow'2 with parts broken away and parts in section;

Fig. 3 is a detail operation view showing a letter about to effect a letter tripping operation;

Fig. 4 is a detail operation view showing a letter tripping operation and the withdrawal of the tape from the printing position of Fig. 3 to a non-printing position;

Fig. 5 is a detail operation view showing the latter part of a cycle of operation after effecting a letter trip, with a tape retracting segment member shielded from contact with the tape as it moves to the home position of Figs. 1 and 3;

Fig. 6 is a detail operation view showing the effect of a tape tripping operation wherein the tape has been moved from a non-printing position to a printing pick-up position;

Fig. '7 is a detail operation view showing the position of the parts after a printing and cutting operation and with the retracting segment in a position ready to return the tape to a printing position;

Fig. 8 is a detail operation view showing the parts after the tape retracting member has engaged and retracted the tape to a printing position;

Fig. 9 is a modified detail operation view similar to Fig. 3 wherein a letter is about to effect a tripping operation but with a spring loaded and latch operated tape retracting member substituted for the direct operation of the retracting member by the letter trip;

Fig. 10-is a detail operation view similar to Fig. 9 showing a tape retracting operation to place the tape in a non-printing position, and

Fig. 11 is an enlarged perspective view of the clutch drive.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the machine comprises a base portion l l and a detachable meter unit l2, the latter containing a printing drum [3. An impression or platen roller I4 is suitably mounted upon a shaft l5, directly beneath the printing drum l3, and is adapted to be connected by means of a flexible shaft IE to a power driven gear unit IT. The printing drum I3 is also adapted to be driven from said power drive gear l1, there being a gear l8 on a drive shaft I8, which is connected with the printing drum l3 through gearing 2|.

A one revolution clutch member is provided as generally shown at 22, Figs. 2 and 11, and includes a ratchet 23 which is an integral part of the power drive gear l1 and rotates continuously therewith about the shaft l9. Pawls 24 are pivotally mounted upon rings 2525 and are urged toward the ratchet 23 by springs 33. Said rings 25'25 are normally supported by a clutch disc 26, one ring being cut away to provide a stop lug 21 which is normally adapted to engage the end of a clutch stop arm 28. The arm 28 is pivotally mounted on a shaft 32. The pawls 24 are normally maintained out of engagement with the ratchet 23 by means of a cam 29, pivotally mounted at 30, and having an enlarged opening 40 therein to permit rocking movement. A finger portion 3! on said cam is also adapted to normally bear against the end of the clutch stop arm 28. When said clutch stop arm 28 is rocked about its supporting shaft 32, in a manner which will be later described, the cam 29 will rock about its pivot 30 and the pawls 24 will move into contact with the ratchet 23, as a result of the force provided by springs 33, and thereby effect a drive of the shaft l9 and rotation of the printing drum through one revolution. The one revolution of the clutch is controlled by the engagement of a pin 34, on the clutch disc 26, with an arm 35, which forms a part f the clutch stop 28 on shaft 32, and thereby rocks said clutch stop 28 into the path of the stop lug 27 and cam finger 3!.

During each rotation of the printing drum, a postage stamp impression will be imprinted upon either the letters or tape passed therebeneath.

Letters L may be presented for printing by hand or by means of driven belt members indicated at -36 which direct the letters to the printing drum 13 for printing. A suitable printing die 3'! is provided in said printing drum. The tripping of the clutch 22, which effects the drive of the printing drum will be later described.

Provision is made for presenting tape T to the printing drum l3, and comprises a tape guide 38 which directs the tape to the impression roller; a tape guide 39, which directs the tape over the impression roller; and another guide 4! which both strips the tape from the platen roller [4 and cooperates with the tape guide 39 in directing the leading end of the tape to a cutting position.

In this machine the position of the tape is adjusted automatically during the initial tripping of the machine to place the machine in condition for continuous operation on the same type of article, letters or tape, without further setting changes. When it is desired to print on a different article, the initial tripping operation will seset the machine for continuous operation on the new article. These changes, during the initial tripping operation, directlycontrol the position of the tape,

Whenthe machine is set for printing on tape and it is desired to operate on letters, the letter passed through the machine, upon engaging the trip, will effect the retraction of the tape from a printing position before the letter ap proaches the printing position. When the machine is set for printing upon letters and it is desired to print upon tape, the initial trip of the manual tape trip member will effect the advancement of the tape from a non-printing position to a printing pick-up position.

The mechanism provided to accomplish the above will now be described. A letter trip finger 3 is mounted upon a shaft 44 and has an arm 45 projecting downwardly therefrom. Said arm 45 is adapted to engage a pin 46 projecting from an arm 4! of a lever 48, which lever is pivotally mounted upon a shaft it and further has a toe portion 5i extending sidewardly therefrom. Also fixed to the shaft 69 is a lever 52 which is linked with a lever 53 on shaft 33 by means of a link 5%. A letter, upon passing between the belts or upon being moved by hand to engage the trip finger, 43 will cause the downwardly projecting arm 45 to engage the pin 46 and rock the lever 48, also the shaft 58, and through the lever and link connection 5253 and 54, the shaft 32 is rocked. The rocking of said shaft 32 will remove the clutch stop 28 from the engagement with the stop lug 2'5 and finger 3| to permit a printing cycle of operation to be effected.

In a like manner a tape tripping operation is effected by means of a manual tripping lever 55, which lever is pivotally mounted upon a shaft 5-6 and has a sidewardly projecting arm 51 the end of which lies beneath the toe portion 5! of lever e8. When the tape trip lever 55 is actuated, the end of arm 51 will engage the toe El and rock the lever 48 to thereby rock the shaft 49 and effect the release of the clutch stop 28 in the same manner as that effected by the letter trip.

The control of the tape position is provided by means of a shield member 58 which is freely mounted upon a shaft 59, and has an arcuate bridge portion 6| which is adapted to pass through an opening 62 in the tape guide 33 and engage the underside of the tape. Cooperating with said shield is a presser roller 63 which is rotatably mounted upon arms 64 carried by a shaft 65. The shield 58 is directly connected to the letter trip shaft 44 through lever 66 and link 61, in such manner that when the trip lever 43 is rocked by the engagement of a letter there with, shaft 44 will be rotated, thereby rocking the lever 66 to effect the movement of the shield 58 about the shaft 59 in a counter-clockwise direction, as shown in Fig. 4. The rocking action of said shield 58 will effect the withdrawal of the tape from the position shown in Fig. 3, as the bridge portion 6i thereof wipes across the underside of the tape opposite the presser roller 63. A flange 68 on said shield 58 has two detent slots 6969 therein which are adapted to be engaged by a pawl H to thereby hold the shield in either one of two positions, the tape retracting position of Fig, 4 or a tape advancing position of Fig. 6. Said pawl is mounted upon a stud l2 and is urged against the flange 68 by means of a spring f3. It will be noted that a slotted connection is provided between the lever 66 and link 6'! at T5) to permit free movement of the trip finger 43 after the initial letter tripping operation.

Assuming now that it is desired to print on tape and the last operation of the machine was for the printing of a letter. The tape lever 55 upon being struck or moved by the operator from the broken to the full line position of Fig. 6, will effect a clutch releasing and printing cycle of operation. An arm 74 fixed to the shaft 55 will be rocked with said shaft in a clockwise direction, as viewed from Figs. 1 and 6, and through the engagement of the upper end of said arm 14 with a pin 15, projecting sidewardly from the shield 58, said shield is rocked from the position of Fig. 5 to the position of Fig. 6. During said rocking of the shield, the tape is moved thereby to the printing position, shown in Fig. 6.

After printing upon tape, the printed end of the tape is advanced between a rotary blade 16 and a stationary blade 11 of a cutting member 18, by means of which the printed portion of the tape is cut off. After a cutting operation, the leading end of the tape is returned to a printing pick-up position, Fig. 8, by means of a tape retracting segment 19 which is fixed to the shaft 59. The curved end of said segment wipes across the undersurface of the tape, opposite the position of the pressure roller 63 and drags the tape with it. Such engagement of the segment 19 with the tape is permitted only when the shield 58 is out of the path of the tape, as in the position shown in Fig. 7.

The cutting of the printed portion of the tape is effected at the end of each printing cycle of operation. The means for effecting the cutting operation comprises a lever 8| fixed to one end ofthe rotary cutting knife 16, which lever is connected with one end of a rocker lever 82, pivotally mounted at 83,, and having a roller 84 at its opposite end which engages with a cam member 85. As the clutch shaft l9 and shaft 59 to which it is connected rotate through one revolution, the cam 85 will engage the roller 84, thereby rocking the lever 82 about the pivot 83 and effecting a rocking movement of the rotary cutter member 16. Shaft 59 is connected with the drive shaft l9 by means of a flexible shaft 80.

Instead of directly connecting the shield 58 with the trip finger 43, means is provided whereby said shield may be moved through a tape retracting operation under spring control when a latching device is tripped by the engagement of a letter with the trip finger 48. Said means is best shown in Figs. 9 and 10 and includes a spring 81 connected with a wing portion 86 projecting from the shield 58. Cooperating with said spring urged shield 58 is a latch lever 88, which is pivotally mounted upon a stud 89 and has one end thereof projecting into the path of a latch engaging member 89 on shaft 59. The opposite.

end of said latch lever has a pin 9| projecting therefrom which projects into the path of a trip arm 92 on shaft 44. Therefore, when the trip finger 43 is urged to the position of Fig. 10, by the engagement of a letter therewith, the trip arm 92 will engage the pin 9| and rock said latch to disengage the latching end 88 from the stop tape at a single printing point, a letter operated tripping member for initiating a machine cycle of operation for letter printing, and a manually operated tripping member for initiating a machine cycle of operation for tape printing; of means operably connected with said letter trip and operable during an initial tripping operation thereof to effect movement of the-tape from a printing position to a non-printing position, means operably connected with the manually operated trip and operable during an initial tripping operation thereof to effect movement of the tape from a non-printing to a printing position, and means to retain the tape in the position effected by the intial tripping operation so long as like tripping operations are continued.

2. In combination with a printing member and platen member, means to direct separate pieces of matter to said printing and platen members, means to direct tape to said printing and platen members, feed means to alternatively advance or retract tape to and from a printing position, tripping means to effect a printing cycle of operation for the printing of separate pieces of matter, tripping means to effect a printing cycle of operation for the printing of tape, said tripping mechanisms being operatively connected with said tape advancing or retracting means, said first tripping means being adapted to operate the feed means to retract the tape, and the second tripping means being adapted to operate the feed means to advance the tape.

3. In combination with a printing member and platen member, means to direct letters to said printing and platen members, means to direct tape to said printing and platen members, two tripping devices, one associated with letter printing and one associated with tape printing to effect alternate operation of said printing member on either letters or tape, and means operated by said tripping devices upon the initial operation of the one associated with the article to be printed upon to place the tape in a printing position when printing is to be effected upon tape or to move the tape out of a printing position when printing is to be effected upon letters.

4. In combination with a printing member and platen member, means to direct letters to said printing and platen members, means to direct tape to said printing and platen members, two tripping devices to effect alternative operation of said printing member on either letters or tape, means controlled by said tripping devices upon the initial operation of one to adjust the tape to a printing position when it is desired to print on tape or to adjust the tape out of a printing position upon the initial operation of the other tripping member when it is desired to print on letters, and means to retain the tape in either adjusted position until an initial tripping operation for a change to the printing of an article of the other type.

5. In a machine of the class described for printing upon either letters or tape, a printing member, a platen member, means to direct letters to said printing and platen members, means to direct tape to said printing and platen members, a letter operated tripping member for initiating a machine cycle of operation for letter printing, a manually operated tripping member for initiating a machine cycle of operation for tape printing, tape engaging means operatively connected with the manually operated tripping member, whereby said tape is moved from a non-printing to a printing position when the manual tripping member is actuated, spring means normally urging the tape engaging means to a tape retracting position, latch means associated with the tape engaging means to latch the tape engaging member after manual tripping is effected, and means to release said latch when initiating a letter tripping operation to print on letters, whereby the tape engaging means is released for return by the spring to a tape retracting position and the tape is returned therewith to a non-printing position.

6. The combination with a printing machine having means for printing upon either letters or tape at a single printing point, a letter operated tripping member for initiating a machine cycle of operation for letter printing, and a manually operated tripping member for initiating a machine cycle of operation for tape printing; of means operably connected with said letter trip and operable during an initia1 tripping operation thereof to effect movement of the tape from a printing position to a non-printing position; and means to retain the tape in said non-print ing position so long as letter printing operations are continued.

7. The combination with a printing machine having means for printing upon either letters or tape at a single printing point, a letter operated tripping member for initiating a machine cycle of operation for letter printing, and a manually operated tripping member for initiating a machine cycle of operation for tape printing; of means operably connected with the manually operated trip and operable during an initial tripping operation thereof to effect movement of the tape from a non-printing to a printing position, and means to return the leading edge of the tape to printing position in each machine cycle of operation thereafter so long as successive operations of the manual trip are continned.

JOHN A. STROTHER. EDWIN H. OV/EN. 

